NJ making free naloxone available next week

Thursday

About a dozen locations are participating in Burlington County, including stores in Bordentown, Evesham, Southampton, Mount Laurel, Medford, Willingboro, Pemberton and Riverside.

Participating pharmacies throughout New Jersey will be distributing naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, free next week in the ongoing efforts to combat the addiction crisis.

Gov. Phill Murphy announced that New Jerseyans will be able to anonymously obtain naloxone from pharmacies without a prescription or appointment. The distribution will be on a first come first serve basis with one dose per person.

The one-day distribution of free naloxone is part of a pilot program approved by the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy. About a dozen locations are participating in Burlington County, including stores in Bordentown, Evesham, Southampton, Mount Laurel, Medford, Willingboro, Pemberton and Riverside.

Naloxone can reverse overdoses from opioids by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain.

In Burlington County, as of the beginning of the month, there have been 46 fatal drug overdoses this year, according to data from the Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office and prosecutor’s office. Last year, 152 people died from overdoses, up from 141 in 2017 and 81 in 2016.

As of early June, naloxone had been administered 207 times this year by law enforcement, first responders and others, according to the prosecutor’s office.

“Naloxone is a critical component in our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives. Last year in New Jersey, first responders administered the drug more than 16,000 times, preventing thousands of deaths,” said state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in a news release. “By participating in the Murphy Administration’s pilot program to provide naloxone free of charge, New Jersey pharmacies are not only expanding access to this life-saving drug, they’re reinforcing their role as vital allies in the battle to end New Jersey’s opioid crisis.”

People who receive naloxone on Tuesday will also be given information regarding addiction treatment and recovery.

“With more than 3,000 overdose deaths in New Jersey last year, the Murphy Administration is taking action to empower residents to help prevent overdoses,” said New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson in a news release. “We are making (naloxone) available for free on June 18 to help New Jerseyans have the tools they need to support their friends and loved ones and to give us every opportunity to save lives and connect people with opioid addiction to treatment.”

Naloxone will be available at select locations of chain pharmacies such as Walgreens, Rite Aid, ShopeRite, and CVS as well as at community pharmacies across the state.